Information for Visiting Academic staff

We are delighted to welcome you to the Open University of Israel (OUI).

The International Office is happy to assist you prior to your arrival and during your stay. Mrs. Alessia Levi, Coordinator of the International Office, can be contacted at alessial@openu.ac.il or by phone at (+972) 09-7782078.

Contact us

We are delighted to welcome you to the Open University of Israel (OUI).

As of January 1st, 2025, travelers to Israel must have a valid visa or ETA-IL approval before starting their journey. For more information visit the Israel Population & Immigration Authority's website.

Before arrival

International post-doctoral students must complete, sign, and submit the OUI post-doc form.

Entry permits and Visa

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A/2 Visa for students

Students are granted an A/2 visa, valid for up to one year, but extendable. The A/2 student visa does not allow you to work in Israel, however your spouse may obtain a work visa. See the section below.

Documents required in order to obtain a student visa:

PhD diploma (must be translated and notarized if written in a language other than English)
Letter confirming the candidate's consent to the terms of his employment as part of his role as a research assistant or post-doctoral student.
Birth certificate (must be translated and notarized if written in a language other than English)
Scanned passport (with a validity of at least 6 months)
Entry visa application form

How to apply

Book an appointment at the local Israeli consulate. A list of Israeli embassies and consulates worldwide can be found here.
Arrive at the consulate with all the required documents and a credit card to pay the processing fee.
The consulate will examine your application and get back to you with an answer.

Family members

Students and visitors who wish to bring family members must request an A/4 visa. This visa is granted to the spouses and minor children of A/2 visa holders.

The process for obtaining an A/4 visa is the same as applying for an A/2 student visa, however, apostille marriage and/or birth certificates are required.
An A/4 visa can only be obtained once the A/2 student visa has been issued.

According to new Ministry of the Interior regulations, doctoral students and post-docs may request a B1 license (temporary residence and work permit) for their spouse without needing employment permits. See the next section.

Work visa for spouses (PhD candidates and post-docs only)

B1 work visa for spouses of students (PhD candidates and post-docs only)
How to apply:

Book an appointment at the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad Ha’pnim) through the online appointment system. Both spouses must be present at the Population Administration/Ministry of the Interior (MOI) when applying.
The following list of documents are required for the application:

Application form for changing visa type.
Two passport-size pictures
An official document from the country of origin (including any name changes) issued within the last six months, confirming that the applicant's spouse has no criminal record or convictions. There may be a requirement to provide a federal certificate of integrity.
A statement by the research student regarding his or her marital relationship with the spouse for whom the application is submitted.
A confirmation letter signed by the higher-education institution indicating that the student is studying for a PhD or is a post-doctoral fellow.
The approval of the higher education institution according to which the foreign research student is receiving funding for his studies or living expenses during his studies from a higher education institution or from another institutional entity that grants study scholarships.
Medical authorization.

The applicant's passport must be valid for at least six months from the expiration date of the requested visa. The visa category change includes a fee, as stipulated by the MOI. The final decision regarding the request will consider multiple factors, including previous stays in Israel. The visa is valid for a year or for the duration of the partner's student visa (the earliest date).
All visas are granted as single-entry visas. A multiple-entry visa can be requested, which allows its holders to leave and re-enter Israel while it is valid. A different fee may apply.
Health Insurance
All spouses must arrange adequate health and accident insurance before arrival. This is the visitor's responsibility. You may choose any international insurance provider; however, we recommend contacting Harel Yedidim, which specializes in student health policies and has English customer service 24/7.
Once you obtain your health insurance, please send a copy of the policy to the International Office.

Useful Information

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Health Insurance

All students and academic visitors must arrange adequate health and accident insurance before arrival. This instruction is the visitor's responsibility. You can choose any international insurance provider; however, we recommend contacting Harel Yedidim, which specializes in student health policies and has English customer service 24/7.
Once you obtain your health insurance, please send a copy of the policy to the International office.

All spouses must arrange adequate health and accident insurance before arrival. This is the visitor's responsibility. You may choose any international insurance provider; however, we recommend contacting Harel Yedidim, which specializes in student health policies and has English customer service 24/7.
Once you obtain your health insurance, please send a copy of the policy to the International Office.

Accommodations

The OUI does not have dorm facilities. However, if necessary, the university will cover the cost of five nights in a hotel while you look for permanent housing. The International Office will be happy to assist you.

Long and short-term accommodation resources:
Ra'anana and Kfar-Saba are good locations to look into if your work is located on the Ra'anana campus. You may have to contact a realtor to find an apartment in this area. Several real estate offices are located along Ahuza Street in Ra'anana. Furthermore, many apartments are advertised on the following Facebook groups:

Raanana apartments without realtor fees
Secret Raanana (in English)
Secret Ra’anana and Kfar-Saba
https://www.facebook.com/groups/israloc (rentals in all of Israel)
https://www.isralet.com/

Banking

You will need to open an Israeli bank account within a few days of your arrival, as your scholarship/ salary and refunds cannot otherwise be transferred.
Many banks have branches in Ra'anana; all are located on Ahuza Street, and most have English-speaking clerks.
For your convenience, some of of the main banks located on Ahuza Street are listed below:
Leumi Bank – 152 Ahuza St.
Mizrahi Bank – 153 Ahuza St.
HaPoalim Bank – 112 Ahuza St.
Discount Bank – 119 Ahuza St.
Once you have opened a bank account, please send us the bank account details so that we can update it in our accountancy system. The form can be found here:

Phones

Local SIM cards may be purchased at the airport, at convenience stores, and in phone shops. Partner, Cellcom, 012, and Golan Telecom are the most popular phone providers.

Transportation

Please note: Public transportation does not run on Shabbat or Jewish Holidays. Taxis, however, are available 24/7
Bus
Buses and trains in Israel require that passengers have a transportation card called a "RavKav". More information about purchasing and loading the card can be found here.
The R’aanana RavKav store is located at 68 Ahuza St.
Useful transportation apps are Moovit and HopOn. These can be used to plan travel and even load your RavKav.
Train
Ra’anana is served by two train stations: Ra’anana South and Ra’anana West. Visit the Israel Rail website to plan your travel.
Taxi
Israelis mainly use apps to order taxis. The most common apps are Gett and Yango.
Taxi stations near the Ra’anana Campus:
Apple Taxi – 142 Ahuza St. Tel. 09-7444433
Renanim Taxi – 29 HaHaroshet St. Tel. 09-743-1234

The work week in Israel

The work week in Israel is from Sunday to Thursday. Saturday (Shabbat) is the national day of rest. During Shabbat and Jewish Holidays, public offices and services do not operate. Note that Shabbat and Jewish Holidays start before sundown on the day before and end after sunset the next day (for example, Shabbat begins on Friday evening and ends on Sat. night).

Important numbers

Police – 100

Emergency – 101

OUI security:
09-7780999

internal extension: 2999

Information for visiting academic staff